Objective Animals and their organs become patterned as they grow. One of the most intriguing and challenging questions in developmental biology today is how patterning and growth are coordinated in time and space. Dpp, a member of TGF-β superfamily, with its ability to regulate both processes, serves as a paradigm to answer this question. Our first aim focuses on the logic of transcriptional regulation by Smad proteins, the nuclear effectors of the TGF-β pathways. The Drosophila Smad proteins, Mad and Medea, lead to activation of some target genes while inhibiting others. The putative cofactors required for Dpp-dependent activation have not been identified thus far. Here, I will test the hypothesis that T-box containing proteins, Dorsocross 1, 2, and 3, fulfill this function. In the second part, I aim to monitor Dpp signaling dynamics in vivo. I will fuse Dpp responsive elements to cDNA constructs that encode highly unstable versions of GFP or RFP allowing us to detect small and transient fluctuations in Dpp response. These experiments aim to achieve a detailed spatio-temporal analysis of the dynamics of Dpp signaling in growing tissues. Such in vivo studies will allow putting forward or excluding certain models of how Dpp exerts its multiple functions. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biology Keywords Animal growth Biochemistry Cell biology Developmental biology Dorsocross proteins Dpp Molecular genetics live imaging patterning signaling dynamics unstable GFP Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-1.IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator UNIVERSITAT BASEL Address Petersplatz 1 4051 Basel Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Markus Affolter (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 191 431,30
